Download Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment in Rwanda

Situation Analysis and Needs
Assessment in Rwanda
Air Pollution,
Occupational Safety and Health,
and Climate Change
Dr Etienne RUGIGANA
Dr Theoneste NTAKIRUTIMANA
Regional Workshop on Planning for the Global Environmental and Occupational Health
(GEOHealth) Hub for Interdisciplinary Research and Training Project
Sheraton Hotel; Kampala Uganda; 22 April 2015
Objectives of the situational analysis and needs
assessment
• to assess the health effect of environmental
exposures related to air pollution (both indoor
and outdoor) and to identify the most critical
gaps in these areas
• to assess the existing country profile on
occupational health and safety and to identify the
most critical gaps in these areas
• to assess the health effect of climate change and
to identify the most critical gaps in these areas
• Document and identify critical gaps in policy,
regulatory and organizational frameworks
Methodology
• Document and literature review of both gray and
peer-reviewed publications:
Line Ministries including the Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of
Disasters Management and Refugee Affairs.
Authorities related to thematic areas, including
the Rwanda Environment Management Authority
(REMA)
Academic Institutions, including the University of
Rwanda, School of Public Health
Situational Analysis: Air Pollution and Health
• The rapid urbanization of Kigali City was accompanied by
a tremendous increase in the flow of fuel wood and
charcoal.
• In Rwanda, more than 80 percent of the population
principally comprising the rural poor are exposed to
dangerous levels of Indoor Air Pollution
• It has been found that over 85% of Rwandans depend
on wood for domestic energy because alternative
sources of energy are unreliable and unaffordable for the
majority of Rwandans, leading to extensive deforestation
Situational Analysis: Air Pollution and
Health
• The fuel wood inflow has increased by 87% from the annual supply of
8,776,080 kg in October 1999 to 15,321,600 kg in September 2004.
• At the same time, the charcoal flows into Kigali have increased by 95% from
the annual supply of 2,031,934 kg in October 1999 to 3,960,600kg in October
2004.
• Throughout Rwanda, the main sources of lighting energy are firewood (52 %)
and charcoal (39.5 %) are by far the main sources of energy used,.
• The percentage increase of the prices from 1995 to 2005 represents 600% for
firewood and 1250% for charcoal.
• It manifests that the demand for wood resources is exceeding an exhausted
supply and the situation will continue to decline as far as no measures are
taken by the Government to reverse that situation.
Need assessment/ gap: Air Pollution and
Health
 Limited institutional capacity and technical
infrastructure such as funding, equipment and
human resource have been identified.
 The regulatory regime on air pollution control and
reduction still has to be improved in Rwanda.
 Limited information is another challenge due to the
lack of systematic quantitative assessment of the
magnitude of the air quality due to inadequate
capacity and resources
 The level of public awareness on the air pollution
problems and associated adverse effect to human health
and environment is still low.
Situational Analysis: Climate change and Health
1. Increase in average annual temperatures
• During the past 36 years, the average annual temperature in
Kigali has increased gradually by 0.9 ºC (from 19.8 ºC in 1971 to
20.7 ºC in 2007)
2. Irregular and unpredictable rainfall
• irregular and unpredictable rainfall patterns, with less weather
predictability for farmers
• an increase in more extreme rainfall events leads to the increase
of floods , landslides, loss of human being, assets etc.
• prolonged periods without rain and an extension of the dry
season (decennial drought 1991-2000)
• tendency towards progressively shorter rainy seasons
FLOODS IN NYABIHU DISTRICT, RWANDA
Needs Assessment/Gaps: Climate Change
• Inadequate capacity of Environmental Health and
climate change personnel in terms of numbers and
trainings
• Inadequate funding of Environmental Health &
Climate Change Services
• The responsibility for climate change services in
Rwanda is currently shared between various
ministries and government agencies
• Fragmented policy framework and weak
coordination
Situational Analysis: Occupational safety and
Health
• The Government of Rwanda has put in place National legislation promoting
Occupational Safety and Health at workplace
 Rwandan Constitution of 2003 as amended to date which in its article 49
determines that every citizen is entitled to a Healthy and satisfying OSH;
 Law no 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating Labour in Rwanda, in its
articles 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96, on Health and Safety at Workplace;
 Laws enacted by the government of Rwanda promote the improvement
of workplace, well-being of workers, Social Security and Health etc.
• Measures have been set to mitigate hazards at workplace
 Occupational safety health inspections done by the ministry of labor and
public service
 Installation fire extinguishers in every institution, public places, markets,
schools, shops
 Medical insurance that allows employees to get medical treatment in
case of any health threat. (RSSB insurance, Private health insurances)
Situational Analysis: Occupational safety and
Health (cont’)
•
Rwanda has ratified several regional and International conventions related to
Occupational Safety and Health. These include:
 ILO Convention n°12 on Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture), 1921 ;
 ILO Convention n°17 on Workmen's Compensation (Accidents), 1925;
 ILO Convention n°18 on Workmen's Compensation (Occupational
Diseases), 1925;
 ILO Convention n°19 on Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation),
1925;
 ILO Convention n°42 on Workmen's Compensation (Occupational
Diseases) (Revised), 1934;
 ILO Convention n°62 on Safety Provisions (Building), 1937;
 ILO Convention n° 118 on Equality of Treatment (Social Security), 1962;
and
 ILO Convention n° 81 on Labour Inspection, 1947.
Needs Assessment/Gaps: Occupational Safety
and Health
• Improving the knowledge and skills of OSH personnels
• Advocating for the integration of OSH in National Curriculum;
• Integrating Health and Safety into vocational, professional and inspectorate
training arrangements;
• Encouraging development of suitable OSH training resources;
• Researching improved methods of OSH skills development;
• Exploring partnerships between areas concerned with Public and
Occupational Health;
• Improving communication with National and International OHS research
bodies;
• Developing Rwanda National Standards of Occupational Competence in
OSH
Conclusion/Recommendations
• The results of situation analyses and need
assessment for Air pollution, Climate Change,
occupational safety and Health show a number of
common problems/ gaps
• weak coordination between implementing
institutions
• Financial Constraints
• Lack of trainings in OSH, air pollution and climate
change
• Insufficient of skilled professionals in the
aforementioned areas
Thank you!!!
Murakoze!